Idioms help you sound more natural in English. They make your speaking clear, strong, and confident. This dictionary is made for idioms learners. You can search any idiom easily. You can also learn idioms from A to Z. Topics are simple too, such as daily life, work, money, time, emotions, relationships, health, travel, nature, and weather.
Each idiom has a simple meaning. It also has a clear definition. You will also see an easy sentence for real conversation. The goal is not to memorize everything at once. Learn a few idioms daily. Read the sentence. Understand the meaning. Then try to use the idiom when you speak.
This dictionary helps you build better vocabulary. It also helps you understand English expressions faster. Use it daily and improve your idioms step by step.
nail in someone’s or something’s coffin
something which will harm or destroy someone or something.
Every word of criticism that Bob said about the firm was a nail in his coffin. I knew the boss would sack him.
nail one’s colours to the mast
to commit oneself to a particular course of action or to a particular point of view. (A ship’s flag—its colours—could not be lowered to indicate surrender when it was nailed to the mast.)
Fred nailed his colours to the mast by publicly declaring for strike action.
naked eye
the human eye, unassisted by optics such as a telescope, microscope, or spectacles.
I can’t see the bird’s markings with the naked eye.
name of the game
the goal or purpose; the important or central thing. (Informal.)
The name of the game is sell. You must sell, sell, sell if you want to make a living.
near the bone and near the knuckle
(Informal.) 1. coming too close to mentioning something which should not be mentioned, for example because it might hurt or offend someone.
Jack’s remark about prisons was a bit near the bone. Jane’s father is on trial just now.
neck and neck
exactly even, especially in a race or a contest. (Informal.)
John and Tom finished the race neck and neck.
needs must
if it is absolutely necessary for something to be done, then it must be done.
I don’t want to sell the car, but needs must. I can’t afford to run it.
neither fish nor fowl
not any recognizable thing.
The car that they drove up in was neither fish nor fowl. It must have been made out of spare parts.
neither hide nor hair
no sign or indication (of someone or something).
We could find neither hide nor hair of him. I don’t know where he is.
never fear
do not worry; have confidence.
I’ll be there on time— never fear.
never had it so good
[have] never had so much good fortune. (Informal.)
No, I’m not complaining. I’ve never had it so good.
never in one’s life
not in one’s experience.
Never in my life have I been so insulted!
never mind
forget it; pay no more attention (to something).
I wanted to talk to you, but never mind. It wasn’t important.
new lease of life
a renewed and revitalized outlook on life.
Getting the offer of employment gave James a new lease of life.
new one on someone
something one has not heard before and that one is not ready to believe. (Informal. The someone is often me.)
Jack’s poverty is a new one on me. He always seems to have plenty of money.
night on the town
a night of celebrating (at one or more places in a town). (Informal.)
Did you enjoy your night on the town?
night-owl
someone who usually stays up very late. (Informal.)
Ann’s a real night-owl. She never goes to bed before 2 a.m. and sleeps until midday.
nine days’ wonder
something that is of interest to people only for a short time.
Don’t worry about the story about you in the newspaper. It’ll be a nine days’ wonder and then people will forget.
nine-to-five job
a job with regular and normal hours.
I wouldn’t want a nine-to-five job. I like the freedom I have as my own employer.
nip something in the bud
to put an end to something at an early stage.
John is getting into bad habits, and it’s best to nip them in the bud.
no hard feelings
no anger or resentment. (Informal. No can be replaced with any. )
I hope you don’t have any hard feelings.
no holds barred
with no restraints. (Informal. From wrestling.)
I intend to argue it out with Mary, no holds barred.
no ifs or buts about it
absolutely no discussion, dissension, or doubt about something.
I want you there exactly at eight, no ifs or buts about it.
no love lost between someone and someone else and no love lost between people
no friendship wasted between someone and someone else (because they are enemies).
Ever since their big argument, there has been no love lost between Tom and Bill.
no skin off someone’s nose
no difficulty for someone; no concern of someone.
It’s no skin off my nose if she wants to act that way.
no sooner said than done
done quickly and obediently. (Informal.)
When Sally asked for someone to open the window, it was no sooner said than done.
no spring chicken
not young (any more). (Informal.)
I don’t get around very well any more. I’m no spring chicken, you know.
no trespassing
do not enter. (Usually seen on a sign. Not usually spoken.)
The sign on the tree said “No Trespassing.” So we didn’t go in.
no two ways about it
no choice about it; no other interpretation of it. (Informal.)
You have to go to the doctor whether you like it or not. There’s no two ways about it.
nobody’s fool
a sensible and wise person who is not easily deceived.
Mary’s nobody’s fool. She knows Jack would try to cheat her.
How To Use Idioms Dictionary
- You can use this dictionary in different ways. Start with the idioms you hear often in movies, conversations, or online posts. Search them here and understand their real meaning. Then read the example sentence and try to speak your own sentence.
- You can also learn idioms by topic. Choose daily life idioms for normal conversation. Choose work and business idioms for office English. Choose money, time, emotion, relationship, health, travel, nature, and weather idioms to improve your topic-based vocabulary.
- A good way to learn is to save your favorite idioms in a notebook. Write the idiom, its meaning, and your own sentence. Review them after a few days. This will help you remember them better.
- Do not use idioms everywhere. Use them only when they fit the situation. The goal is to sound natural, not forced.
- Keep learning slowly. A few useful idioms daily can improve your English speaking a lot.
Here’s a separate section for kids: 100 Common Idioms for Kids
FAQs about Idioms Dictionary
An idiom is a group of words with a special meaning. You cannot always understand it by translating each word.
Type the full idiom or any main word in the search box. The dictionary will show matching idioms with meaning and sentence.
Start with a few idioms daily. Read the meaning, understand the sentence, and try to make your own sentence.
Yes. You can learn idioms by topics like daily life, work, money, time, emotions, relationships, health, travel, nature, and weather.
Yes. The meanings and sentences are written in simple English, so beginners can understand and practice easily.
Idioms help you sound more natural in English. Use them in the right situation to make your speaking more confident.
No. Use idioms only when they fit the situation. The goal is to sound natural, not forced.
